Feeling crabby!

[Will0W783]

I have always loved Halloween (moon) crabs, but my fiance was firmly against me getting any for years. I'd been thinking about a betta fish for my new office at work, since I have the room to myself and wanted to liven it up a bit. We were at the Oaks reptile show on Saturday, and he suggested I get a few moon crabs instead of a betta. I bought two, and have moved one into my office. The other guy will live at home so I can see how they both do.
The one in my office is named Clamps and the one at home is Roberto.
They are soo darned cute and so far have been devouring everything I feed them- lettuce, carrots, cheese, dried brine shrimp, snap peas, fruit.
They're such funny-looking characters and very active.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_110032_zpsgalnzrkg.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_110032_zpsgalnzrkg.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_155309_zps3zqac1x4.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_155309_zps3zqac1x4.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140318_085850_zpstbf0xzp9.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140318_085850_zpstbf0xzp9.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140318_085856_zpst45nxshb.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140318_085856_zpst45nxshb.jpg.html)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_155421_zpsbptukcgi.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140315_155421_zpsbptukcgi.jpg.html)

[sharthun]

Wow, I dig those colors! Very cool!

[Sharlynn93]

My husband drools over these whenever we see them at expos! Now he can envy you for both these and your gaboons! Lol...

[Will0W783]

Thanks guys! I'm really hoping that they do well for me. Clamps is trying to bury himself to hide from me, lol.

[MDT]

Wow...beautiful looking invert. Are they completely terrestrial? I know nothing about crabs (except how to treat the human variety)...

[BIGT FROM F.B.]

Cool! Never seen those before. At first, thought you were talking about Crabby Mike's buffet in Myrtle Beach.(Don't worry, be crabby) LOL!!! Great, now I want crab legs.

[Will0W783]

Halloween crabs are basically terrestrial. They live in rainforests and along beaches and tidal pools from Mexico south to Peru.
They need a thick substrate that they can burrow into and a water dish big enough for them to climb into and wet their gills, but they do not need to live in water. They are ok at room temperature, but do best when kept between 75-85F and they like moderately high humidity (70%). They are scavengers in the wild so they will eat whatever they come across. I've been feeding dried brine shrimp, romaine lettuce, chopped carrots, shredded cheese, dog food and sugar snap peas. When the tropical fruits start being available again around here, I'll get them some mango, papaya and banana.

[poomwah]

wow, those are great.
My daughter has a brackish set up with fiddlers. My wife has a couple set ups for land hermit crabs (a 35 gallon and a 90) maybe I can get her to make a setup for these guys as well :]
how well is your set up maintaining humidity? Most people use a thick layer of sand and eco earth or peat substrate and a more solid top.

[Tsubaki]

aww those are so cool :D!!

[LadyWraith]

Those guys are so cool!

[drumcrush]

Wow, really cool!

[shaunyboy]

Wow Kimberley how cool are they.....

yet another stunning wee beasty from your amazing collection

i love all these super exotic creatures you post pictures of

those little crabs have me grinning from ear to ear...

little pumpkins with claws... amazing pal :D

i love the diversity of what you keep


cheers shaun

P.S. I can't wait to see my older grandkids faces,when i show them your pictures

[Will0W783]

Poomwah, cypress mulch maintains humidity quite well. I also mist them down daily to moisten the substrate. There's a heat lamp on Clamps over his water dish that encourages humidity as well. I'm going to see how it goes. I can always cover part of the screen if I need to.

They seem to love burrowing into the cypress. I know people can use sand or peat, but the seller I got them from said that he's found great success keeping them on cypress and cypress does not mold, which seems to be a common problem of other substrates.

[Will0W783]

Hehe, thanks Shauny!

I think these little buggers are just too cute- I love crabs' faces. They always look grumpy and concerned to me, lol.

[Skits]

I believe they are both males. Males are usually sold in the pet trade because of their vibrant color, therefore they have to be separated. They will fight and rip off limbs..no joke.

I had gotten one a while ago who had only one claw and three missing legs from being attacked by another male..:sad:

Nice crabs, though!

[DragonsEye]

Well you can always sex the crabs to determine what they are. Crab morphology is fairly standard as I recall. A couple of photos which may prove useful:

Steamed Crab Sex - How to tell Male Crabs from Female Crabs (http://www.southbaltimore.com/steamedcrabs/sex.html)

[Will0W783]

Thanks Skits. They are separated- one is living at my work, and one is living at my house.

[Will0W783]

Thanks DragonsEye...I will have to try to get a look at their undersides.